Hip to be on the square

7B/22 Beresford Square, Auckland City. Photo/Supplied

6C/22, BERESFORD SQUARE, AUCKLAND CITY

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SIZE: 77sq m approx.

PRICE INDICATION: Expectation mid- to high-$400,000s.

BODY CORP: $2635 a year.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun noon-12.30pm.

ON THE WEB: citysales.co.nz #9521

AUCTION: September 30.

CONTACT: Gabrielle Hoffman, City Sales, 021 0216 6611.

Sunday mornings are a time Christine Barker always looks forward to.

That is when she enjoys a relaxed breakfast on the north-facing balcony of her sixth-level freehold apartment in Beresford Square. She loves the views over the city and out to the Harbour Bridge, as the morning sun streams in.

"I get the sun until about 2.30 in the afternoon and it's just lovely," says Christine. "It's warm in here and at night it's also magnificent because you have the Sky Tower and all the buildings lit up. I never close the curtains."

Christine bought the apartment in 1997. "I came here on a sunny day, and it felt warm. It has a big open space for the lounge and the kitchen. The apartment just sold itself as it's such a nice location.

"I was working in Queen St and took about 15 minutes to walk to work. It definitely felt like I bought in the right spot."

Christine also likes that the building is one of the few made of wood and steel. There are 42 apartments over six levels; levels one to four are all carparks owned by the city council.

The apartment sale doesn't include a car park; however, Christine has leased one in the building for $180 a month. "It's a lovely historic street. And everyone is quiet at night, I get no noise from residents, no noise from the street or K Rd or the bars. It is a great place to live.

Image 1 of 3: Coffee, croissants and cool views ... mornings just got better, thanks to this freehold cutie

"I have the best sleep-ins."

Her apartment has the wide hallway as you come in, and the bedroom with its en suite is on the left, which Christine treated to $18,000 of renovations. "It seems like a bit of luxury to add to the wonderful view and the space. It has porcelain Italian tiles and all the fittings, the shower, the toilet and the hand basin are from spazioCasa."

The bedroom is a generous space and Christine has fitted out the wardrobe with organisers to maximise storage. Next to the bedroom is a storage cupboard with the laundry (LG washing machine and Kelvinator dryer).

The kitchen is part of the open-plan dining and lounge area, which opens to the wide, deep balcony. Appliances include a Fisher & Paykel fridge/freezer, oven, dishwasher and a Samsung microwave.

"Most of these I bought new two or three years ago."

After 18 years, Christine is off to live in Dunedin where she grew up. Although she is excited about her southern plans she will miss the views and being able to pop up to K Rd whenever she feels like eating out -- especially at her favourite Malaysian, Turkish, Mexican and Indian haunts.

"I am going to miss those restaurants. And getting up on a Sunday and having my breakfast on the balcony. I don't think I am going to get a view like that in Dunedin."